Heading into the final third of the Major League Soccer season there is virtually no unfamiliarity among conference opponents at this stage. And with two meetings already in the books between Chivas USA and FC Dallas, there is no secret how each side will come out in a series finale up for grabs for the Rojiblancos.

What is unknown as of now is who will replace two of the Goats’ key players that will sit out Wednesday’s match at the StubHub Center. Both forward Tristan Bowen and midfielder Gabriel Farfan will begin serving their two-game suspensions for their actions in Chivas’ last match on Aug. 3 against the Colorado Rapids to open up a three-game homestand. The absence of the duo will call on playmakers such as Erick Torres, Carlos Alvarez and Eric Avila to play an even bigger role if the Red-and-White wish to lay claim to their first season series of the 2013 campaign.

“First of all it’s a home game, so we’re going full out,” said Avila. “Every home game is important. [FC] Dallas is a good team, so I think heading into that match we’re just going to go at them. They’re a team with good pace and well organized. So going into the third game it should be a good one.”

The Red-and-White have had success against FCD this season, as they took the first meeting in Week 2 in Carson, 3-1, and later battled for a scoreless draw at FC Dallas Stadium on July 4, which gives the squad confidence in knowing that they match up well against the Texas side.

“I think we were well organized,” Avila commented on the previous meetings. “We stayed together as a team so it was hard to break us down.

“We have to watch out for their counter attacks and they have big forwards. So size is going to be on their side a little bit. But if we stay compact and organized like the first two games we should be fine.”

Should the Goats come away from Wednesday’s match with a tie or better they will clinch their first series against FCD since 2009, as the sides played even last season with three draws. Aside from that, the squad looks to continue their solid home run and add to their 1-1-2 record under Head Coach Jose Luis Real.

“It’s very important to us, especially against a good team. It’s good to match up and know that we can do big things out here; it just took a little bit of patience. Hopefully winning the series will also give us a boost to the next game. It’s a home game and we promised to try and win every home game for the fans and ourselves. I think we’re ready,” Avila concluded.